[Goniometric studies of the human placental barrier in late pregnancy in EPH gestosis].

The structure of normal and toxemic pregnancy (EPH-gestosis) placenta was analysed by goniometric observation. Hitherto the most characteristic symptom of gestotic placenta demonstrable by measurements appeared to be thickening of the placental basallayer consisting of the basal membranes of the capillary endothelium and syncytiotrophoblast. Observations were now made on 20 normal placentas and on 20 ones with full-clinical gestotic symptoms. Specimens prepared by conventional methods were examined with a Philips EM 300 electron microscope, equipped with a goniometer stage. Measurements of the placental basal layer in three goniometer positions: 0 degrees, + 45 degrees, - 45 degrees, were made from negatives of electron micrographs with a final magnification 135,200 x. Data were analysed statistically using Wilcoxon's test. We also used the planimetric-statistic method of Casley-Smith and Davy. We found the thickness of the gestotic placental basal layer to be significantly less than in a normal one. Ultrastructural markers of transport through the feto-maternal blood barrier were more evident that in normals. We suppose the increased placental transport and decreased thickness of the placental basal layer could be compensatory reactions to the pathological lesions of gestotic pregnancy.